Latest news with #BloombergPhilanthropies
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Indian road safety strategies backed by datasets: Bloomberg Philanthropies director
New Delhi: Although we know that too many people are still dying on Indian roads, it is vital to showcase some initiatives that can be role models for the rest of the country, Bloomberg Philanthropies director Kelly Larson said. According to the Bloomberg Philanthropies, which began implementing safety initiatives in Indian cities in 2010, Mumbai saw a 39% reduction in road crash fatalities and a 52% reduction in pedestrian fatalities in the last 10 years. Pune recorded a 35% reduction in cyclist fatalities in 2023, compared to 2022. Notable interventions include ensuring two-wheeler riders in the national capital wear helmets correctly, reclaiming pedestrian space by cordoning off busy intersections in Delhi and Mumbai, and prioritising school safety zones in cities across Maharashtra. She said that the national focus on addressing larger systemic issues by amending the Motor Vehicle Act after 31 years and ensuring strict enforcement of the new law by states has made a significant impact. Larson said the traffic police in Delhi have only recently begun to actively enforce the helmet-clasping provision, a rule that has been part of the Motor Vehicle Act since 1988. This is an important intervention because two-wheeler riders are among the most vulnerable road users, and head injuries are the leading cause of death in crashes involving them. Data from the ministry of roads and transport shows that out of 74,897 two-wheeler riders who died in 2022, as many as 50,029 (66.7%) were not wearing helmets. Moreover, there is no record of individuals who wore poor-quality helmets or ones without clasps. Well-fitting, high-quality helmets, according to the World Health Organisation, can reduce the risk of death by more than six times and the risk of brain injury by up to 74%. In Mumbai, WRI-India, a Bloomberg Philanthropies 'safer streets partner,' experimented using planters and paint to demarcate pedestrian spaces at the busy HP intersection in Bandra, Mumbai. The changes have been made permanent since 2018 and replicated in other parts of the city. Similarly, in 2023, WRI, along with the traffic police, redesigned a traffic junction at Delhi Gate by reallocating the under-utilised space to pedestrians and scaling up the transformation to many other junctions in Delhi. Larson, who attended multiple stakeholder meetings in India last month, said the current set of road safety strategies is evidence-based and backed by detailed datasets that record when crashes occur, who the crash victims are, what periods most crashes occur in, and most importantly, where the blackspot locations are and identifying leading risk factors such as speeding. In 2015, Mumbai was one of the 10 cities globally that started working with Bloomberg Philanthropies and its partners on the road safety agenda. In 2020, the partners began supporting Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and the state of Maharashtra, and currently, the network includes 27 cities and two Indian states. Quoting various datasets on how India has only 1% of all the vehicles globally, and yet 13% of all road fatalities occurred here in 2021, Lievanta Millar, who works on public health at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said it was essential to prioritise the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in urban design. 'When discussing road infrastructure, we need to amend the Indian Road Congress guidelines (that lay down design standards) …and ensure that there are wide enough footpaths where small businesses can operate and people can be safe.' Larson said the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act of 2019 and the focus on enforcement were the key milestones in India's road safety efforts. The new law's provisions were in line with the standards prescribed by WHO on speed, helmet and seat-belt use, and drink driving, but child restraint laws still needed to be strengthened. She also emphasised safer speed limits on Indian highways, where some of the worst road crashes are reported. She said they should be designed not for speed but for safety, recommending the WHO standard of 80 km per hour as a best practice for expressways.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Koloikeao Anthony's ‘Kū‘ena‘ena' watches over Kapiʻolani Park
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Brand new art pieces have made their debut in Kapiʻolani Park. An Oʻahu artist's graphic installation depicting kiʻi, or ancestral guardians, was unveiled Sunday, May 25, at the former archery range. Engine trouble forces emergency plane landing at Kapiolani Park This is the latest piece in the City's Wahi Pana: Storied Places public art project, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. The art piece was the second 'Wahi Pana' piece unveiled over the weekend. The installation, named Kū'ena'ena, was created by artist Koloikeao Anthony, which features vibrant, symbolic imagery to represent kiʻi who will 'stand watch' over the land near the installation through a powerful series of graphic panels mounted on existing signposts. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news A ceremony was held Sunday afternoon to commemorate the unveiling of the installation. 'To me, it brings desire to keep on creating, but also it has its ties to the original name of this place,' said artist Koloikeao Anthony. Set just below the historic Papaʻenaʻena Heiau, Anthony's work challenges popularized tiki imagery and reimagines the presence of Kū, an important figure in Hawaiian belief systems, as a living force in today's world. Community members joined Anthony in a walk-through of the installation, which transforms overlooked park signage into a site of cultural remembrance and visual storytelling. Check out more news from around Hawaii Koloikeao Anthony is a Kānaka Maoli visual artist whose work bridges contemporary design with ancestral memory. Through public art and graphic installation, his practice seeks to reclaim and re-present sacred spaces, challenging colonial aesthetics and amplifying Indigenous presence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond The Ivy League: Is Your MBA Investment A Risky Bet?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO, Macquarie Alum of Harvard Business ... More School, speaks at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum on September 24, 2024 in New York City. (Photo byfor Bloomberg Philanthropies) An MBA from Harvard Business School. The name alone conjures images of unparalleled prestige, a guaranteed golden ticket to a future of leadership, influence and success. But what if that golden ticket just got revoked? Imagine this: You've poured your life savings, sacrificed years, and battled through gruelling admissions to secure a coveted spot at Harvard Business School. Now, you're an international student, and suddenly, the very foundation of your dream – your ability to legally reside and study in the U.S. – is under fire. This isn't a hypothetical scenario; it's the harsh reality unfolding at the 389-year-old institution. The Department of Homeland Security has revoked Harvard's certification to host international students, at the time of publication it has been granted a temporary restraining order to continue enrolling international students while the case proceeds. For nearly 7,000 international students – over a quarter of Harvard's entire enrolment – their future is a legal battleground, shrouded in the "incomprehensible" chaos that now defines our world. For MBA candidates, especially, this is a wake-up call. Harvard Business School (HBS) relies on a staggering 50% international student body to fuel its renowned case learning methodology and foster the diverse perspectives crucial for future leaders. What happens when that wellspring of global talent is threatened? Your MBA isn't just a degree; it's a massive investment. With tuition fees pushing $100,000 annually, you're not just buying an education; you're buying a promise of return on investment. But what if that promise is fracturing before your eyes? The landscape of higher education is no longer a stable, predictable terrain, where the profile is dominated by the pedigree of the United States market. The proliferation of strong offerings from international universities demonstrate the battleground, where universities are increasingly commercialized, and students are the consumers. The days of simply "transferring knowledge" are over. Today, it's about teaching you how to think, how to evaluate, and how to critique in a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). Or, as the newer model suggests, a world that is Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible (BANI) developed by Jamais Cascio, a futurist and researcher affiliated with the Institute for the Future Hong Kong University, already recognized as the "Most International University in the World" in 2023, isn't waiting politely. They're actively poaching Harvard's potential candidates, offering a stark alternative to the unfolding drama in Cambridge, Massachusetts. To add insult to injury they are accessing candidates through the Harvard Alumni Club in Hong Kong. Patti Brown, interim Associate Dean MBA Programs and Executive Degrees at Said Business School, University of Oxford and a veteran in international higher education, doesn't mince words: "The United States has long been considered the safe bet for business education… But with shifting dynamics, it's worth asking—is the U.S. still the best place to invest in their future hopes and ambitions?" This isn't just about where you get your degree; it's about the very quality of your leadership development. In a BANI world, effective leaders don't just respond to chaos; they cultivate organizational cultures that generate innovative solutions. This demands continuous learning, embracing diverse perspectives, and cultivating pluralistic thinking. As Brown emphasizes, "Growth and innovation in business education will come not only from standalone business schools, but also from universities that integrate business learning with the broader academic ecosystem." The MBA of the future isn't a one-size-fits-all generalist program. It's about personalization, technology, and, crucially, employability. Generalist programs risk obsolescence, Kevin Ellis, Former Senior Partner EMEA PwC UK and keynote speaker at the 2025 AMBA Global Conference explains the seismic shifts around business education in the university sector; 'For many years, PwC and similar firms relied on an apprenticeship model, where new MBA hires learned on the job under the guidance of senior staff. The organisational structure resembled a pyramid, with a large base of junior employees performing foundational tasks that provided essential learning opportunities.' He continues to explain how AI is a major disrupter to this model; 'Many of the routine and menial tasks once assigned to junior staff are now automated, leading to a more diamond-shaped structure. With fewer entry-level roles, organisations are hiring fewer graduates. Clients increasingly demand faster, more cost-effective solutions, leaving little room for the traditional on-the-job learning curve. In this new environment, MBA programs must adapt by integrating foundational professional skills into the academic experience. Core competencies such as strategic thinking, AI-assisted research, and analytical reasoning—skills traditionally developed through workplace experience—must now be built into the curriculum. AI is, in many ways, outsourcing cognitive effort; graduates must learn to complement it with critical thinking and human judgment.' Business Schools need bold hairy strides rather than incremental steps to ensure their students have the opportunity to future-proof their careers. In today's fight for talent attracting international students is not simply about money, its a strong indicator of the robustness of the global influence, and soft power of the country hosting business schools. Business schools remain the bastion of a country's global influence and thought-leadership and bedrock for innovation and growth. Brown states; "Our experience indicates that the majority of MBA candidates now enter the program with a solid grounding in the core disciplines traditionally covered in business education. At Oxford Saïd Business School, we draw on the cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary expertise of faculty from across the University of Oxford to curate a curriculum that responds to the rapidly evolving needs of our students and the global business landscape. As the motivations for pursuing an MBA have shifted—no longer centred solely on traditional career paths such as consulting—we are actively engaging with the question: how can we best equip our graduates to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the world.' So, as you weigh your options for an MBA when considering business schools, ask yourself: Are you chasing a fading legacy, or are you investing in a future-proof education that equips you to thrive in a world where even the most venerable institutions are proving to be "brittle" and "incomprehensible"? The choice you make now could define your entire leadership career.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero returns from Qatari-funded trip to Doha economic forum
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero is on her way back from a trip where she attended the fifth annual Qatar Economic Forum held from May 20 to May 22. Charlene Mendoza, Romero's chief of staff, confirmed that the Qatari Embassy in Washington, DC sponsored the trip, which was not announced publicly before the conference. That comes after a city spokesperson, Andrew Squire, initially told the Arizona Daily Star that costs for the trip were being footed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Star reported spokespeople for Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg Media, a host of the conference, rejected that claim. Squire later indicated his original statement was incorrect. Romero was one of 2,500 global leaders who met in Doha, Qatar's capital, for the economic development event. It featured 120 speakers focused on the theme The Road to 2030: Transforming the Global Economy and featured plenary discussions, breakout sessions, MOU signings and agreements, and cultural events, according to a Bloomberg Media press release. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who spoke publicly about the trip, was also in Doha for the conference. In past years, the delegation has included mayors from cities in Florida, Michigan, Idaho and New Mexico. Tucson City Manager Tom Thomure announced her trip at a city council meeting on May 20 and thanked Visit Tucson, the Chamber of Southern Arizona, and the city's economic initiatives department for helping put together materials to support her work at the event. 'As Visit Tucson CEO Felipe Garcia puts it, it is a great thing that our mayor is representing our community on the global stage and showcasing the opportunities our city offers. International forums like this are where connections are made, and investments begin." Thomure said Romero would be advocating for Tucson as a logistics hub and its accessibility by rail, interstate, and air, as well as having one of the largest land ports of entry into the U.S. and being a gateway to Mexico. He said she would also highlight the city's leadership in climate adaptation and innovation, and its location as the home of the University of Arizona, one of the top research institutions in the world. Mendoza told The Arizona Republic that while the mayor's international trips are minimal, they help the city's economic development. On one such economic development trip, Romero traveled with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and others in March 2024, where they met with Volaris Airlines, one of the largest airlines in Mexico. Volaris hadn't been interested in bringing service to Tucson before. Since the meeting in Mexico, the airline has come to Tucson to meet with the airport authority and others involved in economic development about bringing service from Tucson to Mexico, Mendoza said. Connections and conversations like these, Mendoza said, can help develop Tucson's economy and create new jobs as the city scrambles to figure out how to increase revenue. Tucson is facing a decline in state-shared funding, federal grants, and the resounding loss of Proposition 414 in March, which would have raised the city's sales tax to pay for public safety and community investment. "We just lost proposition 414 in Tucson, and how Regina says, voters told us to find another way," Mendoza said. "The way that this works is either you get revenue sources through things like taxes and bonds, or you generate additional revenue sources by creating new jobs and developing the economy." Romero plans to speak about her trip upon her return, Mendoza said. Mendoza said she didn't know why Romero was chosen for the delegation, but looking at past mayors who have been invited, they are a bipartisan group, often leading cities with large research universities, major sporting events, and cities with an organized economic development strategy. 'Regina was really there to do was help people understand that Tucson is open for business,' Mendoza said, adding that Tucson's key sectors, like defense, optics, biosciences, technology, medical devices, and more, were addressed at the economic forum. Reach the reporter at The Republic's coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson mayor returns from Qatari-funded trip to Doha economic forum
Time Magazine
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time Magazine
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg brings the same approach to giving away money as he does to making it. From a fortune amassed by providing precise information to the financial services industry, he has so far donated more than $21 billion to causes ranging from climate to education to the arts. Last year alone, Bloomberg gave $3.7 billion, making him 2024's largest individual donor, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy (he was 2023's biggest giver as well). Noteworthy grants included $1 billion to Bloomberg's alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, to make medical school free for most students and increase financial aid for nursing and public-health students, plus $600 million to boost medical-school endowments at four historically Black colleges and universities. Earlier this year, Bloomberg Philanthropies also announced plans to support efforts to honor the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement following the Trump administration's withdrawal from the international agreement. Key to the overarching strategy is using data to first identify problems, then target solutions and measure progress. Many of his philanthropic initiatives tend to focus on cities as key stakeholders, drawing on Bloomberg's experience as mayor of New York City and working collaboratively with a network of mayors across the globe. As Bloomberg noted in 2018: 'Data doesn't give us all the answers—that requires creativity and innovative problem-solving. But data and facts anchor our thinking to reality at a time when political debate is increasingly untethered to them.'
